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Obama's embrace of political pragmatism came into sharp focus Thursday with the landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban and declared for the first time an individual right to possess a gun.
AP Photo

Shortly before the court decision, Obama sought to sidestep another political land mine over controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act legislation. His support for a government surveillance bill that offers retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies — a bill that he vowed last year to filibuster — angered liberal Internet activists who felt betrayed by what they saw as a politically expedient move designed to inoculate himself against GOP charges that he's weak on national security.

But Obama explained it to reporters Wednesday by pointing out that the bill has changed from when he made his filibuster pledge, saying the latest version allayed several concerns, including providing closer oversight of the government surveillance program. Yet it still effectively offers retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that aided the administration's warrantless wiretapping efforts, a key point Obama said he would oppose. He said Wednesday that he was satisfied with the requirement for an inspector general's review.

He is expected to vote for an amendment stripping out the immunity provision, but even if the effort fails, Obama likely would back the underlying bill.

"It is not all that I would want," Obama said in a statement last week. "But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence-collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay," he said.

The calculations that mark Obama's delicate approach toward the FISA bill and the Supreme Court gun ruling come on the heels of his decision last week to reverse a pledge he made last year to participate in the public financing system in the general election if his Republican opponent agreed to do the same — a move that made him the first modern presidential candidate to decline public financing in a general election.

McCain has agreed to participate in the system, which provides candidates $84 million in taxpayer cash but limits their campaign spending to that amount. Obama, whose historic fundraising ability was unknown when he made the pledge, is expected to easily surpass that tally.

They've been mostly receptive to Obama's forays on campaign finance issues, but many reformers dismissed his explanation for the shift: that his massive base of small online donors constitute a "parallel public financing," and that he needed to exit the program to defend himself from the independent spending of 527 groups.

Obama's decision to opt out of the public financing program followed his campaign's earlier derailment of another bold campaign proposal he had at one time supported: McCain's call for a series of town halls featuring the two candidates.

After declaring last month he would meet McCain "anywhere, anytime" to debate foreign policy — a risky proposition that had the potential to work to McCain's political advantage — Obama backtracked and would only offer one town hall and one extra debate in response to McCain's suggestion of 10.

In explaining the offer to the McCain campaign, Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, said in a statement that Obama's offer "would have been the most of any presidential campaign in the modern era — offering a broad range of formats — and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency."

He charged McCain's campaign "would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country."

Obama is just one more lawyer who wants to sit in the White house. A glib street smart guy who knows how to game the system and has done so most of his life. He is a lot like Bill Clinton with a tan. I think both of them are sociopaths, people who use and discard others to gain power. Under the bus when no longer of any use.

did you expect anything else? This is why us clinton supporters were so angry at the obamabots! Saying you represent change does not mean anything to people who have studied even a modest amount of US history. Sorry but this guy is a born loser. Hillary would have been great - now we get McCain!

Politico, I have watched Obama's speeches and town halls on cspan and he has always said he supported the 2nd amendment but, wanted restrictions on guns inside of cities. He has never strayed from that line. To suggest he is hemming on it is wrong. If you bothered to do alittle research you would have known this and I think you are suggesting something that simply is untrue.

McCAIN'S FLIP-FLOP LIST, WHICH IS NOW A TOP 16 LIST: * McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell, Parsley, and Hagee as ?agents of intolerance? but later courted them to try to win to join his campaign, even giving a speech at Falwell's College. * In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending ?dirty money? to help finance Bush?s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. BUT In April, McCain reached out to the Charles Wylys for support. * McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation. * McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist. * McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands. * McCain gave up on his signature policy issue, campaign-finance reform, and won?t back the same provision he sponsored just a couple of years ago. * McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it. * McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he?s pro-ethanol. * McCain was BOTH for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag. * And now he?s BOTH for and against overturning Roe v. Wade. * John McCain was for the windfall tax on the oil companies, NOW he is AGAINST it. * John McCain was against off-shore drilling, NOW he is for it. * John McCain said he was for the DREAM act, he even co-sponsored the legislation, then he was against the DREAM ACT, now he is FOR it again. * John McCain said that he was for Immigration Reform, when Republicans showed anger at his decision, John McCain changed and decided to be against it, NOW John Mccain is both for, and against it depending on who he is talking to. * John McCain was against the Bush tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, he said that Bush's tax cut for the rich offended his conscience, BUT, NOW John McCain is for the tax cuts! * John McCain says he's against diplomatic talks with Iran, yet in 2005, he voted to allow for Haliburton to do business with Iran --- JOHN McCAIN IS THE ONE WHO HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS A FAKE WHEN IT COME TO REFORM, IT IS JOHN McCAIN WHO CLAIMS HE IS FOR GOVERNMENT REFORM, YET HE HAS 100 LOBBYIST WORKING ON HIS CAMPAIGN, AND IS RECEIVEING MILLION OF DOLLARS DONATIONS FROM LOBBYISTS FOR BIG BUSINESSES, AND FROM PACs, --- (Obama HAS NOT taken one cent from Lobbyists or PACS for the presidential campaign, and right after Obama became the democratic nominee he made sure that NO lobbyists or PACs are allowed to donate to the DNC either) --- JOHN McCAIN IS THE BIGGEST PHONY!!! WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF FLIP-FLOP JOHN McCAIN IN ACTION, DOING THE FLIP FLOPPING IN PERSON WHILE TALKING TO REPORTERS. THE MUST SEE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE IS TITLED: "THE REAL McCAIN 2" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell, Parsley, and Hagee as “agents of intolerance” but later courted them to try to win to join his campaign, even giving a speech at Falwell's College.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. BUT In April, McCain reached out to the Charles Wylys for support.

* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.

* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.

* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.

* McCain gave up on his signature policy issue, campaign-finance reform, and won’t back the same provision he sponsored just a couple of years ago.

* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.

* McCain was BOTH for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* And now he’s BOTH for and against overturning Roe v. Wade.

* John McCain was for the windfall tax on the oil companies, NOW he is AGAINST it.

* John McCain was against off-shore drilling, NOW he is for it.

* John McCain said he was for the DREAM act, he even co-sponsored the legislation, then he was against the DREAM ACT, now he is FOR it again.

* John McCain said that he was for Immigration Reform, when Republicans showed anger at his decision, John McCain changed and decided to be against it, NOW John Mccain is both for, and against it depending on who he is talking to.

* John McCain was against the Bush tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, he said that Bush's tax cut for the rich offended his conscience, BUT, NOW John McCain is for the tax cuts!

* John McCain says he's against diplomatic talks with Iran, yet in 2005, he voted to allow for Haliburton to do business with Iran

--- JOHN McCAIN IS THE ONE WHO HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS A FAKE WHEN IT COME TO REFORM, IT IS JOHN McCAIN WHO CLAIMS HE IS FOR GOVERNMENT REFORM, YET HE HAS 100 LOBBYIST WORKING ON HIS CAMPAIGN, AND IS RECEIVEING MILLION OF DOLLARS DONATIONS FROM LOBBYISTS FOR BIG BUSINESSES, AND FROM PACs,

--- (Obama HAS NOT taken one cent from Lobbyists or PACS for the presidential campaign, and right after Obama became the democratic nominee he made sure that NO lobbyists or PACs are allowed to donate to the DNC either)

--- JOHN McCAIN IS THE BIGGEST PHONY!!! WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF FLIP-FLOP JOHN McCAIN IN ACTION, DOING THE FLIP FLOPPING IN PERSON WHILE TALKING TO REPORTERS.

Faced with tough choices on fronts ranging from public financing and town hall meetings to warrantless surveillance and the Second Amendment, Obama passed up opportunities to take bold stands and make striking departures from customary politics. Instead, he has followed a familiar tack, straddling controversial issues and choosing politically advantageous routes that will ensure his campaign a cash edge and minimize damaging blowback on several highly sensitive issues.

Here, the rest of us who actually pay attention to what Obama does instead of fawning over his speeches, we all say "DUH". He won't articulate what "change" he'll bring, or how he'll bring it. He is a politician like any other, though he's given better speeches than some. Are we electing someone to give speeches or articulate how they're going to actually bring change? Neither McCain nor Obama will do that.

Obama voted against a bill that would have allowed concealed carry by those who had an order of protection issued against another. You can find his hostility to concealed carry in the transcripts starting on page 100.

May 30, 2002

SB-1936

Made it legal for someone to possess a firearm without an FOID card as long as they were in the direct supervision of someone with an FIOD card. The bill became law. Obama voted against it.

March 24, 2003

SB-356

From the legislature site: "Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that the Department of State Police shall publish a list of handguns having a barrel, slide, frame or receiver that is a die casting of zinc alloy or any other nonhomogeneous metal which will melt or deform at a temperature of less than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Provides that a building used for the unlawful sale of firearms may be abated as a public nuisance only if the person using the building for the unlawful sale has been convicted of the offense and the Department of State Police has published the list of prohibited firearms. Effective immediately." Obama vote for this bill. It died in the House.

March 25, 2003

SB-2163

Would have lowered the age for FOID card from 21 to 18. The result is that some men in the military are not able to own firearms. Obama voted against it.

March 27, 2003

SB-947

A "Gun Show Loophole" bill. Obama voted for it.

May 7, 2003

HB-1096

Would have legalized handgun deer hunting. Obama did not vote.

May 15, 2003

HB-515

This bill was to notify gun owners when their gun was the subject of records request or search. The bill would have allowed the owner to have his trace information destroyed under certain circumstances. During this time Daley was trying to use trace information to use in gun manufacturer lawsuits. Obama voted against the bill. It passed but the governor vetoed it.

May 16, 2003

HB-2579

House Bill 2579 evolved from a car "secret compartments" bill to a one handgun every 30 days bill. Obama goes on for more than a page about this "very measured, modest regulation" on page 120 of the day's transcripts . Obama voted for the bill.

May 24, 2003

SB-257

A House Amendment would legalize handgun deer hunting. Obama voted in favor of the House Amendment. He did not vote for or against SB-257.

March 25, 2004

SB-2165

From the Illinois Legislature site: "Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a violation of a municipal ordinance that prohibits, regulates, or restricts the private ownership of firearms if the individual who is charged with the violation used the firearm in an act of self-defense or defense of another. Effective immediately." Obama voted against this bill twice. It passed anyway. The governor vetoed and the legislature overrode the veto.

THI IS A RIVETTING IDEO OF HILLARY AT GROUND ZERO AFTER 9/11!!YES HILLARY IS A TRUE PATRIOT, DURING VIETNAM WAR HILLARY SERVED IN THE MARINES, FOR 4 YEARS, AND SHE WOULD HAVE FOUGHT IN COMBAT, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW WOMENB TO FIGHT AT THAT TIME BUT I BET SHE WOULD HAVE!!

After declaring last month he would meet McCain "anywhere, anytime" to debate foreign policy-a risky proposition that had the potential to work to McCain's political advantage--Obama backtracked and would only offer one town hall and one extra debate in response to McCain's suggestion of 10.

THI IS A RIVETTING IDEO OF HILLARY AT GROUND ZERO AFTER 9/11!!YES HILLARY IS A TRUE PATRIOT, DURING VIETNAM WAR HILLARY SERVED IN THE MARINES, FOR 4 YEARS, AND SHE WOULD HAVE FOUGHT IN COMBAT, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW WOMENB TO FIGHT AT THAT TIME BUT I BET SHE WOULD HAVE!!